How Insurance Companies Try to Pay You Less!

How Insurance Companies Try to Pay You Less!

Posted By
Hastings, Cohan, & Walsh, LLP

Once all of the medical records and reports are obtained, it is time to decide whether or not your personal injury, accident or injury case is ready for evaluation. The major issue that all claims representatives address prior to evaluating a claim is whether or not the injuries claimed appear related to the loss. If there are any concerns about a particular injury being related to a loss, the claims representative will usually consider obtaining a peer review, where a doctor will review the claimant’s records and comment on both the reasonableness of the treatment and whether or not the injuries appear to be related to the accident, and/or an independent medical evaluation, where a doctor selected by the insurance company will examine the claimant and then write a report setting forth their findings.

Once a case is ready to be evaluated, several factors need to be considered:

The type and extent of the injuries

Treatment required for the injuries

Recuperative period

Medical bills (past and future)

Lost wages (past and future)

Disability period

If the injuries are permanent in nature (PPD rating(s), scarring)

If future treatment is recommended/warranted

The nature and cost of future treatment

How the injuries have affected the injured party

How the injuries can expect to affect the person in the future

The age of the claimant and witness potential are also key factors and can increase and even reduce the value of a particular case. The Defendant’s witness potential is also considered and can change the value of a case significantly. Was the defendant driving recklessly? Where drugs or alcohol involved? What type of a witness will the Defendant make?

Experience is key when evaluating a bodily injury case. All cases are different, but most have similarities that carry over from case to case, which is why it is very important to have an experienced Connecticut personal injury attorney represent you from the start of your case. If you or someone you love was involved in an accident and is seeking a personal injury attorney, contact our team at 888-244-5480 for a free consultation.